Facing a Child Sex Crime Charge in Collin County? Know the Process From Arrest to Trial

Being arrested or charged with a child sex offense is frightening, and the next steps are often unclear. This guide walks through the child sex crimes process in Collin County, from the first report to sentencing. It is written for the person facing the case and for the family members helping them.

What steps does the criminal process follow after someone is arrested or charged with a child sex offense in Collin County, Texas?

The child sex crimes process in Collin County usually moves in stages. A report leads to an investigation, then an arrest or warrant, a magistrate hearing and bond. For felony charges, a grand jury decides whether to indict. After that come arraignment, discovery, pretrial motions, and then a plea, dismissal or trial.

These cases are brought by the State of Texas. Stages can overlap, and some cases take a different route. Each stage brings its own decisions, so early review matters. The rest of this guide explains each stage in order.

How does the child’s age and the alleged conduct change the charge?

The alleged conduct and the child’s age decide which charge applies. Texas sex offense laws are sorted by the act and, for many child offenses, by the child’s age. The same accusation can lead to different charges and penalty ranges.

Indecency with a child by sexual contact is a second-degree felony. Exposure is a third-degree felony (Penal Code § 21.11). Aggravated sexual assault is a first-degree felony. Its minimum prison term rises to 25 years when the child is younger than 10 at the time of the offense, or when the child is younger than 14 and the actor commits the offense in a manner described by Subsection (a)(2)(A) (Penal Code § 22.021).

Age also matters in defenses. Penal Code § 21.11(b) provides a limited affirmative defense for certain close-in-age cases; it requires, among other conditions, that the accused be not more than three years older than the child and of the opposite sex. In a trial for an offense under Penal Code Sections 21.11 or 22.011, the judge shall make an affirmative finding of fact and enter it in the judgment if the defendant was not more than four years older than the victim or intended victim, the victim or intended victim was at least 15 years of age at the time of the offense, and the conviction is based solely on the ages of the defendant and the victim or intended victim (Code of Criminal Procedure art. 42.017).

Online and image-based allegations use separate statutes with their own elements. Read the charge on the paperwork closely, and contact Barbieri Law Firm to review it.

What happens during the investigation: interviews, devices and forensic interviews?

Investigators usually start with interviews, records and devices. Police may speak with the accused, the child and other witnesses. A forensic interview is a recorded interview of the child, held in a child-focused setting. Investigators may also request medical or school records.

When a child is involved, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services may run a separate child-protective investigation. That track is separate from the criminal case.

The following steps are worth knowing. Do not discuss the allegations with the child, family members or others, because statements and messages can be used later. Do not delete anything. Write down what you remember, with dates, and gather the messages and records you have. Bring them to your first conversation with counsel.

What happens at arrest, the magistrate hearing and bond?

An arrest may follow a warrant or happen without one. The amount and conditions depend on the charge and the facts presented at that hearing.

In child cases, bond conditions often limit contact with the complainant and access to children. Some conditions keep the accused away from homes, child care facilities or schools where a protected child lives or attends. Whether violating a bond condition is a separate crime depends on the specific situation.

This risk can be easy to overlook in the first days after an arrest. Read the exact terms of the bond order. Follow them, even if they seem unfair, and ask counsel to explain any term that is unclear.

How does a grand jury indictment work in a Collin County felony case?

The grand jury decides whether to return an indictment. This is why early review of the evidence matters.

The grand jury can return an indictment or decline to. An indictment sends the case to the trial court, where the charge is formally pending.

Write down every date the State alleges. Dates shape the timeline of the case, and a lawyer will need them early.

What are arraignment, discovery and pretrial motions in a child sex crime case?

Evidence in these cases can include recorded interviews, forensic reports, medical records and device extractions. Reviewing that material closely is central to the defense.

Pretrial motions ask the court to rule before trial. The evidence and the way it was gathered are part of what a defense lawyer reviews.

Defense counsel reviews the video, recorded statements and reports. Counsel then explains the options at each step. The review is detailed work. It often takes more than one pass through the material.

What happens after discovery: plea negotiations, dismissal or trial, and sentencing?

Punishment follows a conviction. A first-degree felony carries life or 5 to 99 years (Penal Code § 12.32). A second-degree felony carries 2 to 20 years (Penal Code § 12.33). Continuous sexual abuse of a young child carries life or 25 to 99 years (Penal Code § 21.02).

Under Penal Code § 21.02(d), jurors need not agree on each specific act or the exact dates for continuous sexual abuse. They must agree that two or more acts occurred over a period of 30 days or more (TDCAA on Jessica’s Law).

Sex offender registration can follow certain convictions. For some offenses, the duty to register lasts until death. For others, the duty ends on a date set by the statute, depending on the offense and the conviction (Code of Criminal Procedure art. 62.101).

Talk through your own situation with the firm

You may be reading this for a child, a spouse, a partner or yourself. A court date, a police contact or a bond order may already be in motion. That is a hard place to be, and you do not have to sort it out alone.

Can bond conditions lead to a new charge? Yes. Violating a bond condition in a sexual assault or abuse case can be a separate offense.

For the broader picture, read Facing a Child Sex Crime Accusation in Texas. No lawyer can ensure how a case ends. We can review the charge, the bond terms and the next dates with you. Barbieri Law Firm offers a free, confidential initial consultation with no obligation to continue. Call (972) 424-1902 or send your case details through our contact page.

Attorney responsible for this site: Heather Barbieri, Barbieri Law Firm, Frisco, Texas.